There are 31964 comments on the
Dayton Daily News
story from Feb 5, 2008, titled Our recommendation: Springboro voters should say 'yes' the first time to school levies.
In it, Dayton Daily News reports that:

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Remember the hissy fit the PTO Moms and Levy Ladies and SEA activists threw last year over getting their program of studies that Malone brought in crammed down our throats, in a big hurry, so that Malone could hire more union teachers so that the kiddies could take guitar lessons?It seems there is a long standing pattern in this school district of the same group of self-interest activists trying to claim the school tax dollars paid by all school district voters; for their own small closely-knit group's personal agenda.Several times during the January 10 protest, there were disuptive yells of "It's OUR money."Why do these rude and rowdy community members (who descend upon these board meetings like vultures) think they have special privileges to claim they speak for an entire community of taxpayers, as if they OWN ALL OUR money to spend as these few community activists see fit to their personal agendas?

"It's OUR money!"..."It's OUR money!"..."It's OUR money!"...

..all the while board member Miller sat quietly in the auditorium's cat-bird seat, he did the best he could not to break a smile while he basked in an unmistakable aura of absolute greed being exuded from union-first thinkers.

<quoted text>David Bowman blogs and articles spreading lies and attacking the character of others on our school board do not scare me at all- just totally disgust me, thats's all.I choose to avoid reading David Bowman's low opinions; and find it disgusting to be subjected to his personal opinions at public board meetings.

You might learn something if you read his articles!!! Maybe some of us are tired of your personal opinion!

I must admit to be slightly amused at all of the demands for transparency from the Board on anything they do.

I contrast that with demands for transparency from our Athletic Programs. Whether it be the Booster Club, The Fan Store, a public accounting of each sports teams finances, etc. All of these were supposed to be filing financial reports monthly with the Superintendent's Office. A repeated public records request turned up a few pieces of paper here and there, but nothing that resembled anything like a real financial statement, or even general accounting ledger.

I hear not a word of exhortation from the people who are howling about $15,000 being spent to investigate better ways of educating our children, but raise not a word over the unaccounted $1,000,000 athletic budget.

I watch as pork barrel employment practices for the junior high basketball games balloon out of control, while they neglect to raise one dime to help offset those same costs.

Since second grade every player in the select basketball program has been supported by their parents donating their time and effort. Running the clock, doing the books, collecting the money at the gate, and manning the concessions stands when call upon.

Suddenly, in the 7th grade, we find that the only people qualified to run a time clock are school employees being paid $25 per game to do so. The only people who can run a set of books are school employees who are paid $25 per game to write down who scored. The only people capable of collecting money at the door are school employees, once again on the payroll.

The athletic director claims she is not capable of running a concession stand, every other venue we visit is capable of doing so and does, with the exception of Xenia. Instead the athletic director at the junior high and the principal say it's best to use the vending machines where we get a cool $100 per week or so from 8 the games played in our gym each week. When we ran our own concessions we made $3500 over a two month period.

This same athletic director used to be the person at the gate collecting the admission fees and selling concessions, of course it did cut into the amount of time she had for reading.

Please don't cry those crocodile tears for me when you complain about fraud and waste, we see it every day.

I must admit to be slightly amused at all of the demands for transparency from the Board on anything they do.I contrast that with demands for transparency from our Athletic Programs. Whether it be the Booster Club, The Fan Store, a public accounting of each sports teams finances, etc. All of these were supposed to be filing financial reports monthly with the Superintendent's Office. A repeated public records request turned up a few pieces of paper here and there, but nothing that resembled anything like a real financial statement, or even general accounting ledger.I hear not a word of exhortation from the people who are howling about $15,000 being spent to investigate better ways of educating our children, but raise not a word over the unaccounted $1,000,000 athletic budget.I watch as pork barrel employment practices for the junior high basketball games balloon out of control, while they neglect to raise one dime to help offset those same costs.Since second grade every player in the select basketball program has been supported by their parents donating their time and effort. Running the clock, doing the books, collecting the money at the gate, and manning the concessions stands when call upon.Suddenly, in the 7th grade, we find that the only people qualified to run a time clock are school employees being paid $25 per game to do so. The only people who can run a set of books are school employees who are paid $25 per game to write down who scored. The only people capable of collecting money at the door are school employees, once again on the payroll.The athletic director claims she is not capable of running a concession stand, every other venue we visit is capable of doing so and does, with the exception of Xenia. Instead the athletic director at the junior high and the principal say it's best to use the vending machines where we get a cool $100 per week or so from 8 the games played in our gym each week. When we ran our own concessions we made $3500 over a two month period.This same athletic director used to be the person at the gate collecting the admission fees and selling concessions, of course it did cut into the amount of time she had for reading.Please don't cry those crocodile tears for me when you complain about fraud and waste, we see it every day.

Ahh.... but maybe there is a reason why school employees work the games! Think about this....if parents worked the games at the JH level (clock, book, tickets), there might be an EXPECTATION for their son/daughter to get more playing time. By having school employees do these things there is no expectation.Its sounds to me like you might have a "bee in your bonnet" over something at the JH level....what might that bee be?You are a very grumpy and cynical man, Just Watching! Get a job, get a life, and get happy....

I must admit to be slightly amused at all of the demands for transparency from the Board on anything they do.I contrast that with demands for transparency from our Athletic Programs. Whether it be the Booster Club, The Fan Store, a public accounting of each sports teams finances, etc. All of these were supposed to be filing financial reports monthly with the Superintendent's Office. A repeated public records request turned up a few pieces of paper here and there, but nothing that resembled anything like a real financial statement, or even general accounting ledger.I hear not a word of exhortation from the people who are howling about $15,000 being spent to investigate better ways of educating our children, but raise not a word over the unaccounted $1,000,000 athletic budget.I watch as pork barrel employment practices for the junior high basketball games balloon out of control, while they neglect to raise one dime to help offset those same costs.Since second grade every player in the select basketball program has been supported by their parents donating their time and effort. Running the clock, doing the books, collecting the money at the gate, and manning the concessions stands when call upon.Suddenly, in the 7th grade, we find that the only people qualified to run a time clock are school employees being paid $25 per game to do so. The only people who can run a set of books are school employees who are paid $25 per game to write down who scored. The only people capable of collecting money at the door are school employees, once again on the payroll.The athletic director claims she is not capable of running a concession stand, every other venue we visit is capable of doing so and does, with the exception of Xenia. Instead the athletic director at the junior high and the principal say it's best to use the vending machines where we get a cool $100 per week or so from 8 the games played in our gym each week. When we ran our own concessions we made $3500 over a two month period.This same athletic director used to be the person at the gate collecting the admission fees and selling concessions, of course it did cut into the amount of time she had for reading.Please don't cry those crocodile tears for me when you complain about fraud and waste, we see it every day.

Dear Doug, I truly feel sorry for your two daughters and your young son. The way you act in public at board meetings, setting up appointments with your sons basketball coach and said AD, setting up appointments with a guidance counselor to complain about PSEO and how the school is not doing what they are supposed to be doing by law (which they do by the way, meeting was held in Feb) is more than like mortifying for your young children. The way your wife scolded a young man on your sons team for not paying for pregame meals yet (does she have any idea how embarrassing it is to be called out for not having money in front of your friends) Did you ever think that as 7th graders parents probably want to watch their kids play instead of running books and feeding people at a concession stand? When you were in your "select" days the people running the concession stands were probably parents of younger or older teams (you have 7 levels to choose from) at the junior high you don't have that option anymore, parents want to watch their kids not embarrass them like you do. I'm glad teachers are there to do this and yes they do deserve to be paid for their services. I want to watch my son play in the game, not worry about who has how many fouls or points nor do I want to be selling snickers and popcorn to people. I want to watch my son and his teammates on the court. You seriously need to either one, get a job, or two, start enjoying your kids youth. Don't make them go to school and have their friends ask why their dad is always posting on Topix and what not. How about putting YOUR kids first and you and your wife quit embarrassing them daily.

I must admit to be slightly amused at all of the demands for transparency from the Board on anything they do.I contrast that with demands for transparency from our Athletic Programs. Whether it be the Booster Club, The Fan Store, a public accounting of each sports teams finances, etc. All of these were supposed to be filing financial reports monthly with the Superintendent's Office. A repeated public records request turned up a few pieces of paper here and there, but nothing that resembled anything like a real financial statement, or even general accounting ledger.I hear not a word of exhortation from the people who are howling about $15,000 being spent to investigate better ways of educating our children, but raise not a word over the unaccounted $1,000,000 athletic budget.I watch as pork barrel employment practices for the junior high basketball games balloon out of control, while they neglect to raise one dime to help offset those same costs.Since second grade every player in the select basketball program has been supported by their parents donating their time and effort. Running the clock, doing the books, collecting the money at the gate, and manning the concessions stands when call upon.Suddenly, in the 7th grade, we find that the only people qualified to run a time clock are school employees being paid $25 per game to do so. The only people who can run a set of books are school employees who are paid $25 per game to write down who scored. The only people capable of collecting money at the door are school employees, once again on the payroll.The athletic director claims she is not capable of running a concession stand, every other venue we visit is capable of doing so and does, with the exception of Xenia. Instead the athletic director at the junior high and the principal say it's best to use the vending machines where we get a cool $100 per week or so from 8 the games played in our gym each week. When we ran our own concessions we made $3500 over a two month period.This same athletic director used to be the person at the gate collecting the admission fees and selling concessions, of course it did cut into the amount of time she had for reading.Please don't cry those crocodile tears for me when you complain about fraud and waste, we see it every day.

Dear Doug,I truly feel sorry for your two young daughters and young son. The way you and your wife act around Springboro is sad. Your wife ripping into a young man for not paying for his pregame meals yet within earshot of all of his friends (does she realize how embarrassing it is to be called out for not having money) is unthinkable. You setting up meetings with guidance counselors to complain about PSEO (which by the way they do hold meetings like they are supposed too, meeting was in Feb of 2012) or setting up a meeting with your sons coach and said AD. Having teachers work the book and take tickets and run scoreboards is a great thing. And yes, they do deserve to be paid for their time. You referred to parents doing this during "select" games, obviously you forgot that there are seven age groups of parents to run the books and concession stands Doug. At the junior high games you don't have that luxury anymore. I for one want to watch my son play, I do not want to work the clock,collect tickets or sell Sniker Bars to people like you. You are wrong on so many levels of what you post on here Doug, the high school does do what they are supposed too and the junior high AD does a fantastic job. You need to get off of Topix and enjoy your young children as they grow up, you have lost all credibility on here. "Just Watching" you make an A$$ of yourself is getting really old.

<quoted text>Dear Doug,I truly feel sorry for your two daughters and your young son. The way you act in public at board meetings, setting up appointments with your sons basketball coach and said AD, setting up appointments with a guidance counselor to complain about PSEO and how the school is not doing what they are supposed to be doing by law (which they do by the way, meeting was held in Feb) is more than like mortifying for your young children. The way your wife scolded a young man on your sons team for not paying for pregame meals yet (does she have any idea how embarrassing it is to be called out for not having money in front of your friends) Did you ever think that as 7th graders parents probably want to watch their kids play instead of running books and feeding people at a concession stand? When you were in your "select" days the people running the concession stands were probably parents of younger or older teams (you have 7 levels to choose from) at the junior high you don't have that option anymore, parents want to watch their kids not embarrass them like you do. I'm glad teachers are there to do this and yes they do deserve to be paid for their services. I want to watch my son play in the game, not worry about who has how many fouls or points nor do I want to be selling snickers and popcorn to people. I want to watch my son and his teammates on the court. You seriously need to either one, get a job, or two, start enjoying your kids youth. Don't make them go to school and have their friends ask why their dad is always posting on Topix and what not. How about putting YOUR kids first and you and your wife quit embarrassing them daily.

This sounds liked Wiedeman has struck a raw nerve with some people who like to keep everyone in the dark. I notice that you didn't realize each team took care of their own team with their own parents in select. Nobody cried or complained. And you aren't supposed to speak with your kids teachers, advisors, or coaches? That seems stupid.And that pay to play has gone down from $375 to $160. If my math is any good and we did as Wiedeman suggested it would almost go to zero.

Keep raising the questions it seems to bother some people that it should.

Have you read the latest Springboro schools newsletter, in which the kindgergarten teachers' anti-bullying lessons to kids are in the spotlight?Isn't this a waste of taxpayers money in light of the bullying behavior of teachers and parents seen modeled at public school board meetings on January 10 and January 22?"In teaching children we must seek insensibly to unite knowledge with the carrying out of that knowldge into practice." -Immanuel Kant

It's nothing less than hypocritical for our Springboro teachers to be speaking out against bullying, when next month at their Atlanta national teacher's meeting, notorious BULLY pro-communist, pro-domestic terrorist Bill Ayers is scheduled to be one of the keynote speakers.

<quoted text>Dear Doug,I truly feel sorry for your two young daughters and young son. The way you and your wife act around Springboro is sad. Your wife ripping into a young man for not paying for his pregame meals yet within earshot of all of his friends (does she realize how embarrassing it is to be called out for not having money) is unthinkable. You setting up meetings with guidance counselors to complain about PSEO (which by the way they do hold meetings like they are supposed too, meeting was in Feb of 2012) or setting up a meeting with your sons coach and said AD. Having teachers work the book and take tickets and run scoreboards is a great thing. And yes, they do deserve to be paid for their time. You referred to parents doing this during "select" games, obviously you forgot that there are seven age groups of parents to run the books and concession stands Doug. At the junior high games you don't have that luxury anymore. I for one want to watch my son play, I do not want to work the clock,collect tickets or sell Sniker Bars to people like you. You are wrong on so many levels of what you post on here Doug, the high school does do what they are supposed too and the junior high AD does a fantastic job. You need to get off of Topix and enjoy your young children as they grow up, you have lost all credibility on here. "Just Watching" you make an A$$ of yourself is getting really old.

Where to start, how about meeting with my daughters guidance counselor, Ms. Wilson, to learn more about how the PSEO is run. This is a program whereby the state will pay for the college courses your child takes while still enrolled in high school. My daughter is going to be a senior this coming year and needs but one class to graduate, I would like to take as much advantage of this program as is possible. The deadline for notification is March 1, the deadline to sign the letter of intent to participate is March 31, and the deadline for fall consideration is May 1. Time passes so quickly now that it seems only prudent to begin moving forward now rather than later. Ms. Wilson and I met from 6:10 a.m. until 6:45 a.m. and she provided me with much needed background and information about the program. I know now what options are available, other students experiences in the past , and what we need to concentrate on in the near term. All and all a good, productive meeting.

If money is indeed as tight as everyone likes to make it out to be, and evidently there are children in our community that cannot afford to pay to participate, then perhaps we should look at the underlying cost structure in place that is driving the price of the program out of reach. Larding on employees to a program does nothing but unnecessarily bloat the payroll. Ultimately someone has to pay the price for those chunks of lard, either through higher taxes, higher pay to play fees, or more fund raising.

My point is that we are spending over $7000 to pay for jobs that at other schools either parents or other children are doing for far less. Add to that the lost revenue we miss by not running a concession stand like everyone else, save Xenia, and you have another $3500 not being collected.$10,500 divided by the 80 girls and boys in the basketball program would equal $131.50 per kid in costs that did not need to be paid. Pay to participate is only $160 per child now.

We all did our duties for the teams at the select level. They did NOT bring in other grades to have us watch the door for our games, or keep the scorebook, or run the clock. While not everyone was able to participate as much as others, as usually happens, enough people stepped up when the bell was rung to successfully run the program.

The duties of an athletic director are more managerial and administrative than secretarial. The same skill set that produces a good teacher or aide is not necessarily one that translates naturally to a good athletic director.

<quoted text>It's nothing less than hypocritical for our Springboro teachers to be speaking out against bullying, when next month at their Atlanta national teacher's meeting, notorious BULLY pro-communist, pro-domestic terrorist Bill Ayers is scheduled to be one of the keynote speakers.

Where can we get a list of the Springboro Teachers/SEA union officials who are attending this conference in Atlanta? And who is the school employee responsible for sending teachers to this conference? Is it the SEA president who decides; does the school superintendent have to give his approval? Does the SEA pay expenses for this national teacher's meeting from their union dues which have already been collected from local Springboro families and taxpaying homeowners? Do teachers pay expenses out of their own pockets?

It all sounds great having parents work and volunteer to save money but the end results are exactly like what is happening in the varsity boys basketball program where kids who have worked hard are cheated out of their deserved playing time. In the end having parents coach or volunteer, there are always agendas attached. The entire Springboro basketball community is painfully aware of this fact and hopefully the inner circle of the BOE will become enlightened of this fact as well.

It all sounds great having parents work and volunteer to save money but the end results are exactly like what is happening in the varsity boys basketball program where kids who have worked hard are cheated out of their deserved playing time. In the end having parents coach or volunteer, there are always agendas attached. The entire Springboro basketball community is painfully aware of this fact and hopefully the inner circle of the BOE will become enlightened of this fact as well.

These are good lessons for children to learn at an early age. Very few of us escape situations in life after high school where we see people get ahead that shouldn't because of who they know and who they blow smoke by on a daily basis.

Some bosses have tunnel vision, some you just don't get along with, and some are morons. In the end it doesn't matter because they are the boss. Anyone care to guess how these situation generally turn out? How many of us with the long experience in life have not witnessed the above?

You learn to deal with it the best you can given the circumstances you enjoy.

The BOE does not have anything to do with the governance of the select basketball program.

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